Extraction of Aluminum Oxide from Local Kaolin Clay Deposits in Ethiopia

Workie Tsegaye Belay; Mengisst Kassaw Melesse; Amha Betemariam Gizmu

doi:doi:10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12

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Extraction of Aluminum Oxide from Local Kaolin Clay Deposits in Ethiopia

Workie Tsegaye Belay^*, Mengisst Kassaw Melesse

, Amha Betemariam Gizmu

Published in Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering (Volume 9, Issue 3)

Received: 10 August 2024 Accepted: 5 September 2024 Published: 18 October 2024

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Abstract

The need for aluminum is growing worldwide, which has sparked interest in finding alternate ways to make alumina from materials other than bauxite, particularly clays. This article examines the use of sodium carbonate as a leaching agent in the lime sintering process to recover alumina from kaolin. Excavated from Tarmaber, Ethiopia, kaolin clay contains a content of 32.88%, which has a relatively good composition. Collecting and grounding raw kaolin to micrometer-level particle size is the first task. The recovery of kaolin alumina was studied at sintering temperatures of (T₁=800°C, T₂= 900°C & T₃=1000°C) at different sintering times of (t₁=1 hr, t₂=2 hrs & t₃=3 hrs). After the raw material was burned at the given temperatures and times, it was cooled for the night in the furnace and leached with different concentrations of sodium carbonate (M₁=50 g/l, M₂=60 g/l & M₃=70 g/l). The response surface methodology (RSM) in combination with the central composite design was used to optimize the operating parameters. The optimization result shows that the optimal conditions were a calcination temperature of 953.84°C, a sintering time of 2.99 h, and a leaching agent concentration of 70 g/l. At this optimal condition, the yield of Alumina was 1.05 g of 20 g of Kaolin clay. The resulting Alumina was crystalline in structure (from XRD analysis), contains 89.05% Al₂O₃ (from silicate analysis) and a large broad band between 400-1000 cm^-1 is attributed to Al-O-Al stretching of Alumina (from FT-IR analysis). So, it is possible to conclude that alumina production from no bauxite ores is possible.

Published in	Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering (Volume 9, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12
Page(s)	80-93
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Alumina, Kaolin, Sintering, Leaching, Carbonization, Calcination

References

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[2]	Tilahun W/maryam Zegeye, “Assessing the Quality, Mining and Processing Techniques of Bombawuha Kaolin Deposit, Southern Ethiopia,” 2018.
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[4]	R. O. Ajemba and O. D. Onukwuli, “Process Optimization of Sulphuric Acid Leaching of Alumina from Nteje Clay Using Central Composite Rotatable Design,” pp. 1–7, 2012.
[5]	“Aluminium oxide,” 2021, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.102337
[6]	O. Ombaka, “Characterization and classification of clay minerals for potential applications in Rugi Ward, Kenya,” vol. 10, no. November, pp. 415–431, 2016, https://doi.org/10.5897/AJEST2016.2184
[7]	O. O. Henry and N. N. Chigoziri, “PROCESS MODELING OF SULPHURIC ACID LEACHING OF IRON FROM OZORO PROCESS MODELING OF SULPHURIC ACID LEACHING OF IRON FROM OZORO CLAY,” no. October, 2014.
[8]	M. A. Tantawy and A. Ali Alomari, “Extraction of Alumina from Nawan Kaolin by Acid Leaching,” Orient. J. Chem., vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 1013–1021, 2019, https://doi.org/10.13005/ojc/350313
[9]	K. M. Ibrahim, M. K. Moumani, and S. K. Mohammad, “Extraction of γ -Alumina from Low-Cost Kaolin,” 2018, https://doi.org/10.3390/resources7040063
[10]	A. B. ElDeeb, V. N. Brichkin, R. V. Kurtenkov, and I. S. Bormotov, “Extraction of alumina from kaolin by a combination of pyro- and hydro-metallurgical processes,” Appl. Clay Sci., vol. 172, no. March, pp. 146–154, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2019.03.008
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[12]	T. W. Mariam and W. Getaneh, “The influence of parent rock, mining and processing technologies on the industrial quality of kaolin concentrate – case study from Bombowha kaolin, Ethiopia,” vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 33–47, 2022.
[13]	C. Technology, “Extraction of Potassium From Feldspar and Leucite By Two Different Activation Meth- Ods : Mechanical Activation (Milling) and High Temperature Activation (Roasting),” no. June, pp. 82–93, 2011.
[14]	Y. L. Botero, J. Eli, D. Ram, D. M. Zapata, and F. Jaramillo, “From Clay Minerals to Al₂O₃ Nanoparticles : Synthesis and Colloidal Stabilization for Optoelectronic Applications”.
[15]	C. H. E. R. N. A. N. D. E. Z. C. Hernandez, “Mechanical and physical properties of engineering alumina ceramics Mechanical and physical properties of engineering alumina ceramics”.
[16]	L. Pawłowski, “Extraction, Properties and Applications of Alumina 3. 2 Reserves of Bauxite and Mining,” 2018.
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APA Style

Belay, W. T., Melesse, M. K., Gizmu, A. B. (2024). Extraction of Aluminum Oxide from Local Kaolin Clay Deposits in Ethiopia. Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, 9(3), 80-93. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12

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ACS Style

Belay, W. T.; Melesse, M. K.; Gizmu, A. B. Extraction of Aluminum Oxide from Local Kaolin Clay Deposits in Ethiopia. J. Energy Environ. Chem. Eng. 2024, 9(3), 80-93. doi: 10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12

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AMA Style

Belay WT, Melesse MK, Gizmu AB. Extraction of Aluminum Oxide from Local Kaolin Clay Deposits in Ethiopia. J Energy Environ Chem Eng. 2024;9(3):80-93. doi: 10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12

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@article{10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12,
  author = {Workie Tsegaye Belay and Mengisst Kassaw Melesse and Amha Betemariam Gizmu},
  title = {Extraction of Aluminum Oxide from Local Kaolin Clay Deposits in Ethiopia
},
  journal = {Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering},
  volume = {9},
  number = {3},
  pages = {80-93},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jeece.20240903.12},
  abstract = {The need for aluminum is growing worldwide, which has sparked interest in finding alternate ways to make alumina from materials other than bauxite, particularly clays. This article examines the use of sodium carbonate as a leaching agent in the lime sintering process to recover alumina from kaolin. Excavated from Tarmaber, Ethiopia, kaolin clay contains a content of 32.88%, which has a relatively good composition. Collecting and grounding raw kaolin to micrometer-level particle size is the first task. The recovery of kaolin alumina was studied at sintering temperatures of (T1=800°C, T2= 900°C & T3=1000°C) at different sintering times of (t1=1 hr, t2=2 hrs & t3=3 hrs). After the raw material was burned at the given temperatures and times, it was cooled for the night in the furnace and leached with different concentrations of sodium carbonate (M1=50 g/l, M2=60 g/l & M3=70 g/l). The response surface methodology (RSM) in combination with the central composite design was used to optimize the operating parameters. The optimization result shows that the optimal conditions were a calcination temperature of 953.84°C, a sintering time of 2.99 h, and a leaching agent concentration of 70 g/l. At this optimal condition, the yield of Alumina was 1.05 g of 20 g of Kaolin clay. The resulting Alumina was crystalline in structure (from XRD analysis), contains 89.05% Al2O3 (from silicate analysis) and a large broad band between 400-1000 cm-1 is attributed to Al-O-Al stretching of Alumina (from FT-IR analysis). So, it is possible to conclude that alumina production from no bauxite ores is possible.
},
 year = {2024}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Extraction of Aluminum Oxide from Local Kaolin Clay Deposits in Ethiopia

AU  - Workie Tsegaye Belay
AU  - Mengisst Kassaw Melesse
AU  - Amha Betemariam Gizmu
Y1  - 2024/10/18
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12
T2  - Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
JF  - Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
JO  - Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
SP  - 80
EP  - 93
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2637-434X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12
AB  - The need for aluminum is growing worldwide, which has sparked interest in finding alternate ways to make alumina from materials other than bauxite, particularly clays. This article examines the use of sodium carbonate as a leaching agent in the lime sintering process to recover alumina from kaolin. Excavated from Tarmaber, Ethiopia, kaolin clay contains a content of 32.88%, which has a relatively good composition. Collecting and grounding raw kaolin to micrometer-level particle size is the first task. The recovery of kaolin alumina was studied at sintering temperatures of (T1=800°C, T2= 900°C & T3=1000°C) at different sintering times of (t1=1 hr, t2=2 hrs & t3=3 hrs). After the raw material was burned at the given temperatures and times, it was cooled for the night in the furnace and leached with different concentrations of sodium carbonate (M1=50 g/l, M2=60 g/l & M3=70 g/l). The response surface methodology (RSM) in combination with the central composite design was used to optimize the operating parameters. The optimization result shows that the optimal conditions were a calcination temperature of 953.84°C, a sintering time of 2.99 h, and a leaching agent concentration of 70 g/l. At this optimal condition, the yield of Alumina was 1.05 g of 20 g of Kaolin clay. The resulting Alumina was crystalline in structure (from XRD analysis), contains 89.05% Al2O3 (from silicate analysis) and a large broad band between 400-1000 cm-1 is attributed to Al-O-Al stretching of Alumina (from FT-IR analysis). So, it is possible to conclude that alumina production from no bauxite ores is possible.

VL  - 9
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Workie Tsegaye Belay

Chemical Engineering Department, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia

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Mengisst Kassaw Melesse

Food Engineering Department, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia

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http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6755-9085
Amha Betemariam Gizmu

Chemical Engineering Department, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Belay, W. T., Melesse, M. K., Gizmu, A. B. (2024). Extraction of Aluminum Oxide from Local Kaolin Clay Deposits in Ethiopia. Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, 9(3), 80-93. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12

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ACS Style

Belay, W. T.; Melesse, M. K.; Gizmu, A. B. Extraction of Aluminum Oxide from Local Kaolin Clay Deposits in Ethiopia. J. Energy Environ. Chem. Eng. 2024, 9(3), 80-93. doi: 10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12

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AMA Style

Belay WT, Melesse MK, Gizmu AB. Extraction of Aluminum Oxide from Local Kaolin Clay Deposits in Ethiopia. J Energy Environ Chem Eng. 2024;9(3):80-93. doi: 10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12,
  author = {Workie Tsegaye Belay and Mengisst Kassaw Melesse and Amha Betemariam Gizmu},
  title = {Extraction of Aluminum Oxide from Local Kaolin Clay Deposits in Ethiopia
},
  journal = {Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering},
  volume = {9},
  number = {3},
  pages = {80-93},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jeece.20240903.12},
  abstract = {The need for aluminum is growing worldwide, which has sparked interest in finding alternate ways to make alumina from materials other than bauxite, particularly clays. This article examines the use of sodium carbonate as a leaching agent in the lime sintering process to recover alumina from kaolin. Excavated from Tarmaber, Ethiopia, kaolin clay contains a content of 32.88%, which has a relatively good composition. Collecting and grounding raw kaolin to micrometer-level particle size is the first task. The recovery of kaolin alumina was studied at sintering temperatures of (T1=800°C, T2= 900°C & T3=1000°C) at different sintering times of (t1=1 hr, t2=2 hrs & t3=3 hrs). After the raw material was burned at the given temperatures and times, it was cooled for the night in the furnace and leached with different concentrations of sodium carbonate (M1=50 g/l, M2=60 g/l & M3=70 g/l). The response surface methodology (RSM) in combination with the central composite design was used to optimize the operating parameters. The optimization result shows that the optimal conditions were a calcination temperature of 953.84°C, a sintering time of 2.99 h, and a leaching agent concentration of 70 g/l. At this optimal condition, the yield of Alumina was 1.05 g of 20 g of Kaolin clay. The resulting Alumina was crystalline in structure (from XRD analysis), contains 89.05% Al2O3 (from silicate analysis) and a large broad band between 400-1000 cm-1 is attributed to Al-O-Al stretching of Alumina (from FT-IR analysis). So, it is possible to conclude that alumina production from no bauxite ores is possible.
},
 year = {2024}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Extraction of Aluminum Oxide from Local Kaolin Clay Deposits in Ethiopia

AU  - Workie Tsegaye Belay
AU  - Mengisst Kassaw Melesse
AU  - Amha Betemariam Gizmu
Y1  - 2024/10/18
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12
T2  - Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
JF  - Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
JO  - Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
SP  - 80
EP  - 93
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2637-434X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20240903.12
AB  - The need for aluminum is growing worldwide, which has sparked interest in finding alternate ways to make alumina from materials other than bauxite, particularly clays. This article examines the use of sodium carbonate as a leaching agent in the lime sintering process to recover alumina from kaolin. Excavated from Tarmaber, Ethiopia, kaolin clay contains a content of 32.88%, which has a relatively good composition. Collecting and grounding raw kaolin to micrometer-level particle size is the first task. The recovery of kaolin alumina was studied at sintering temperatures of (T1=800°C, T2= 900°C & T3=1000°C) at different sintering times of (t1=1 hr, t2=2 hrs & t3=3 hrs). After the raw material was burned at the given temperatures and times, it was cooled for the night in the furnace and leached with different concentrations of sodium carbonate (M1=50 g/l, M2=60 g/l & M3=70 g/l). The response surface methodology (RSM) in combination with the central composite design was used to optimize the operating parameters. The optimization result shows that the optimal conditions were a calcination temperature of 953.84°C, a sintering time of 2.99 h, and a leaching agent concentration of 70 g/l. At this optimal condition, the yield of Alumina was 1.05 g of 20 g of Kaolin clay. The resulting Alumina was crystalline in structure (from XRD analysis), contains 89.05% Al2O3 (from silicate analysis) and a large broad band between 400-1000 cm-1 is attributed to Al-O-Al stretching of Alumina (from FT-IR analysis). So, it is possible to conclude that alumina production from no bauxite ores is possible.

VL  - 9
IS  - 3
ER  -

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